Open or not?

[juggahnaught]

Some players like them more than others.

I personally don't tend to use them much, but I will depending on the music and the style. Some bass lines call for it. Some were designed for it.

If I'm playing a four-string, or if I'm playing a bass and prioritizing the EADG strings for a specific style of music or a specific song, then I will use open strings on occasion. These styles of music generally tend to be in keys that have sharps and are common to guitars. (And, of course, there's only one E1 on the fretboard, and it's the open position.)

If I'm playing on something other than a four-string, and I'm not playing in common guitar keys - basically, most keys with flats - then I will usually not use open strings, even if the opportunity exists.

Open strings can be useful for easily playing contrapuntal lines and executing melodies that have large ranges or pedal tones. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the bass guitar, it really only works in certain keys with certain tonal centers and only in certain situations, so I find that it's not really all that useful. Furthermore, I personally find that the register is also important, so playing pedal tones would be more likely to happen on the E and A strings than the G string. This presents even more limitations. Two-handed playing/tapping would be a better way to execute melodies and lines like this in any key without being tied to open strings.

They aren't inherently good or bad, but - especially on a four-string bass - I think the cases where they can be used in a creative way are far fewer than the cases where they can't be. Even on my six-string, I find that attempting to use open strings in a creative way limits me to the same old keys.

 

[dreamadream99]

I prefer a fretted note to an open string, because open strings don’t allow me any control over the notewith the fretting finger. Can’t do fretting hand muting, or vibrato. Also, mid-neck fingerings are more ergonomically beneficial than far away positions.

 

[sawzalot]

Notes are notes and there are no rules about this sort of thing. The open strings have a certain sound and when I want that sound, I play them. Sometimes they’re handy for certain riffs and fingerings and I’ll use them there, too. Other times it’s better to play the fretted position, so I will.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

25655855[/URL], member: 40185"]The rule on the cello is, never play a note on an open string. Instead, play it out of tune and glare at your stand partner.

I must have missed that lesson. It might have made me a better cellist.

 

[retslock]

I don’t have any issues with open strings. I use them as grace notes, or for chords when using the higher frets and also for runs using the 10th note of the chord. They also free your fretting hand for positional changes and sometimes the open sound is just what I want.

 

[IamGroot]

It depends. Use what you thinks works best in context. If you come from an upright background, you know how to use open strings and mute as necessary. EB players can mute with both picking hand or fretting hand (Jaco, Tal Wikenfeld, Mohini Day, Bobby Vega, Frank Rocco Prestia). But generally, closed position records better, unless you using very old strings and a mute like James Jamerson who, unlike Carol, used a lot of open strings/fretted string mixes.

 

[zontar]

I love using open strings in certain cases--primarily if I am playing an E, A or D for more than one beat.
I'll play the open E string & the octave on the 3rd string--it adds an extra depth to the sound--and while I didn't get the idea from him, John Paul Jones side it to great effect in songs like Communication Breakdown & Whole Lotta Love to get a bigger sound.
When I saw him explain that in na interview I felt very vindicated for doing the same thing.

For the A & D I use unison with the open string & the 5th fret on the next string--again-it adds some depth--even though it's a unison.
The difference in tone, and the way you mute it (Or don't mute it) adds a cool feel to it.

Of course some songs I won't use these techniques as they don't fit the song--but when they work--they sound great & fill out the sound.

 

[nnnnnn]

Why did Motown Master like James, or even Sir Bob use them all the time?

Who is Sir Bob?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

What is, or why is the attitude towards playing open strings such a debated topic?
If you watch some of the so called “ Bass Lesson Videos” on the Your Screwed, they treat playing open strings as bad technique. Really?
Why do the upright players use them to check tuning?
Why did Motown Master like James, or even Sir Bob use them all the time?
If you are playing the song and you can build a good bass line using open strings in what ever capacity; what is the issue?

Back in the 60's when I started, if you didn't have a piano or an organ, you would just tune to someone's guitar. Wasn't just a stand-up bass, this is how we tuned electric bass back then. It was really basic, Typically everyone would tune to E. Then you'd fret the A (5th fret) on the E string and play the open A. You'd adjust the open A string to match the fretted A on the E string. Then fret the D on the A string and tune the open D string to match, etc. It wasn't always at concert pitch but was usually close and played a lot of music from tuning that way.

Later, learned that chiming the harmonic on the fretted A on the E string and the fretted E on the A string would give you the same note in a higher register that was easier to use for tuning. After that we used harmonics for our tunings.

Why do the old guys still tune like this...because it's second nature to them because they've been doing it that way so long.

You don't see people using open strings nearly as much now as you did in the 60's and 70's. Partly that's because it's easier to recognize shapes (or pattern boxes) and just move those up and down and/or across the neck as needed. It's much easier to mute fretted notes because you just slightly lift your finger of the fret and it's muted. When playing an open string you either have to use your fretting hand to stop the open string from ringing out, or use palm muting, or often enough a combination of the two.

I like to use fretted notes most of the time because it's easier than trying to include open notes in the pattern and muting is simpler. One place I absolutely will use open string is when I am doing position shifts on the neck. For instance the cool bass run Time After Time that I start on the fretted A, play 6 notes in the Am chord up (A,C,E,A octive) and down (E, C, A on the E string) and that 7th note is back to A before you drop down to play the low F, G, and C. Fretting that A on the E-string before it drops to the low F is very difficult to do smoothly. It's a legato run so it needs to be smooth followed smoothly by the next part. So I don't fret that low A, I play it as an open string while my fretting hand moves down to smoothly and easily play that low F to start the next part (A, G, C).

Other times I'll switch between doing the normal shape in one spot on the neck to using the shape with the open strings just to give my fretting hand something different to do so it doesn't cramp up when doing the same way gets tiring. And of course anytime you need extra body with a note that is going to ring out I'll play the open sting and fret the octave on the 7th fret of the next string. Listen to John Paul Jones playing "A Whole Lotta Love" and you'll hear him play the open E as well as the octave on the 7th fret of the A string. So sometimes you'll play open strings for effect, and other times because it's more convenient to do so.

 

[Pops OB]

I’m amused by the do it the way I do it otherwise you’re stupid comments.

Me, I avoid open strings when possible. I don’t like the tone, but I play them when I must.

The bassist is an artist, not a rigid technical draftsman. It’s your art, play as you see fit.

 

[IamGroot]

Who is Sir Bob?

Bob Babbitt

 

[White Beard]

I love open strings. They allow me to left hand shift with ease on running passages. With chords that contain an E, A, D, or G, I can create some groovy harmonies. If I need a sustained note, they just ring forever, way longer than a fretted note, and have natural sonic pleasantness that reverberates through my bass with natural harmonics.

Most importantly, though, playing open strings allow me to do cool things with my left hand like fist pumping, giving people a thumbs up (or thumbs down), and drinking a beer.

 

[chriscarcinogen]

Open strings are fun. They sound slightly different, but not different enough to matter in my applications.

If it's an issue with your fretted bass, you could always have your luthier install a zero fret...

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

What is, or why is the attitude towards playing open strings such a debated topic?
If you watch some of the so called “ Bass Lesson Videos” on the Your Screwed, they treat playing open strings as bad technique. Really?
Why do the upright players use them to check tuning?
Why did Motown Master like James, or even Sir Bob use them all the time?
If you are playing the song and you can build a good bass line using open strings in what ever capacity; what is the issue?

It's just an inconsistent tone compared to a fretted note. Do what works.

 

[Real Soon]

100% depends on the music.

Ergo... yes, it's worth working thru passages that might use open strings (stuff like Rage or Chili Peppers or Talking Heads songs are great starting points). Don't think you HAVE to live on open strings to be successful, but it's a tool for the toolbox.

 

[Hummergeist]

Doesn't bother me if the tone changes. That's the sound of a real person playing a real instrument.

 

[SteveCS]

Doesn't bother me if the tone changes. That's the sound of a real person playing a real instrument.

Not to be confused with the sound of someone who can't be bothered to think about the sounds they are making...

 

[lbbc]

I play what is required by the song. I don't mind using open E or A...open D and G sound "thin" to me (so I shy away from them).

 

[brianrost]

Ask yourself how often you avoid playing open E. Case closed!

As far as tonal variations, if more basses came with zero frets that would be a moot point. I owned a fretless Steinberger L2 years ago and instead of a nut, the high end of the fretboard was sloped at an angle acting like a zero fret. My fretted L2 has a zero fret, but my much newer NS Radius has a traditional nut.

After playing the DB for a while, I started using open strings on BG far more often. Just like the DB, I use them when playing in C, A and F, but unlike the DB I seldom use them for G, D or Bb.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Love me some open string! It’s where you can practice your muting control.